Man Hunt

spacegypsy1

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Chapter Five

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Grabbing a muffin for Mitchell and a cup of coffee and muffin to tide him over for the next three hours, Daniel went to visit the infirmary.

"Jackson! Surprised to see you awake this early, man." Cam was sitting up, clean shaven, and obviously better than yesterday.

"I'm always awake this early..."

"No. You're usually walkin' around this early, but you couldn't say you were actually awake." The colonel grinned, set his laptop aside, and crossed his arms. "So, how's the princess doin'?"

Daniel shrugged. "She was supposed to have breakfast with me, but she's primping." Putting the extra muffin beside Cam's laptop, Daniel took a seat on the empty bed next to colonel's. "Who has to primp for breakfast?"

Before Cam could answer, Carolyn entered. "Well, from what I heard, she probably wants to look her best for your little chat."

"Ya know, Doc, we should do a reality show based on all the gossip around here." Cam winked at Carolyn.

"I see you're in good spirits this morning." Without another word, Carolyn began removing the bandage wrapped around Cam's lower chest.

"How could you have heard about that already?" Coffee cup in one hand and muffin in the other, Daniel stared incredulous at the doctor.

She didn't take her eyes off her work. "Things like cell phones, base phones, internet..."

"Trains, planes and automobiles?" Cam winked at her again when he caught her darting her eyes in his direction.

"I'll send a nurse in to redress this. Looks good. I might let you out of here later...if you're a good boy."

Sitting up straighter with a slight wince of pain, Cam called out as she walked away. "Oh, Doc, I can be a real good boy." Once she was gone, Cam tried to get a good view of his injury, but bending forward was too painful. "What's it look like, Jackson?"

"Like I'm about to seal the deal. IF she ever gets ready!"

"Naw, man, I mean the wound. I can't stretch over enough to see it."

"Oh, right. It looks red." Daniel drank his coffee, staring at Mitchell over the cup rim.

"What's the plan?" Cam looked up at his friend.

With a mouthful of muffin, Daniel chewed and swallowed quickly. "The nurse is supposed to come and dress it."

"I mean with the princess."

Daniel pointed across the room with his coffee cup as Carolyn reentered. "I'll tell you later. Here comes..."

Looking over first to Carolyn and then back to Daniel, Cam whispered, "Uh oh, that's trouble. May as well tell me now. She's gonna know before you get to the surface anyway."

"Know what?" The doctor looked from one man to the other before ripping open a sterile bandage and preparing some kind of goo to slather on her patient.

Mitchell eyed the slimy looking bandage in Carolyn's hands. "I thought the nurse was gonna do that, not that I mind your cold hands on my naked flesh, mind you."

"My nurses are busy. My hands are cold because the infirmary is cold to cut down on bacteria growing." She applied more chilly goo and grinned. "And your naked flesh is going to rot if someone doesn't take care of it." Placing the gauze pad on the wound, Carolyn began to tape it down. "So, Daniel, what is the plan?"

"There is no plan, Carolyn." Daniel tossed the empty paper coffee cup in the trash and stood. "Two more hours...I don't get the concept, but I suppose I should start learning." He sighed in resignation. "I better go get some work done while I can. Three hours...why three hours? What the hell could take so long? She's stalling – realizing she's really not interested."

"Jackson...three hours, come on man. She's only askin' for three hours...ow, Doc! Careful there."

Carolyn shot Mitchell a warning glare.

"I think she's stalling." Daniel frowned, staring at the floor.

Mitchell had grabbed Carolyn's wrist to stop her care of his wound...so he could actually speak. "Man, how long has Vala been chasin' you?"

Looking up, Daniel blinked in confusion, shuffled his feet and then the light bulb look turned his expression to an 'ah ha'!

Carolyn stared with wide eyes at the hand on her wrist. The colonel held it gently, casually, intimately, slowly pulling it against his chest. She had to slam her open mouth closed to trap the squeak inside.

"I'm out of here. I need to think straight and I can't do that with you two playing footsies." Daniel grinned. "I'm going to check on my...ah...my...er...my girlfriend?"

"Cool." Cam let loose of Carolyn, relaxing back against his pillow. "Jackson?"

Almost out the door, Daniel cranked his head around looking at the colonel over his shoulder. "Huh?"

"Do not walk into her quarters and shut that door behind you."

An eyebrow raised and Daniel's grin grew – looking mischievous. "Why not?"

"Cause, buddy, I don't want 'that' happenin' here."

Still looking back, Daniel shrugged. "Mitchell. 'That' happens all the time on base."

"Not with my team." Cam nearly shot off the bed as Carolyn ripped the bandage from his wound. "Son of a bitch, Doc! You tryin' to kill me!"

"Oops, sorry, colonel. I have to redo it."

Daniel studied the two for a moment. "You're right, Mitchell. See you soon."

When Mitchell looked up, he caught sight of the archeologist disappearing out the door. "See you two in a couple of days!" he yelled, laughing. Laughter turned quickly to a series of coughs and, "ow, gah, ow, stop, damn woman! That hurts like hell!"

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Tapping her door with a knuckle Daniel was surprised when it opened immediately, and Vala stood there dressed to kill...or conquer. She wore her hair down and curled, lips perfectly glossed in red, a simple, but...'wow' dress, and those black strappy mile high heels that had always made his mind wander to things he could never speak out loud. But her eyes were shrouded in enormous dark sunglasses.

"What? Too bright in your room?" He said playfully.

"Ha ha...I have splotchy circles around - and huge bags under - my eyes." Purse on her shoulder she marched past him and prissed down the hall.

He followed, head shaking and with a good bit of trepidation for the coming dialog.

~TBC